Thoughts on why this would happen please

[flower fairy]

Would like some thoughts on the following scenario if anyone can think of anything.
Thank you.

I have a family called Banks in the 1870/80s. Dad Benjamin married Harriet Maria Hill in 1869 Portsmouth, and their 4 children were born in India as dad was in the military. One child Lucy, died in India. The rest of the family must have then moved back to England and Benjamin died in 1879, Portsmouth.
 
    2 of their children, Violet and Constance were listed as being in "the nursery" on the 1881 census and were then put into Portsea Workhouse in 1883 by their mother Harriet.   The other child Mabel was on the 1881 census living in Curry Rivell Somerset with a Christiana Champion and is listed as "nurse child" next to relation to head of house.
   I am unable to find anymore info on Harriet, and can't find her on any census. And and thoughts or suggestions as to why Mabel would have been separated from her 2 sisters and moved from Portsmouth to Somerset?. I can find no link between Mabel and Christiana.

Thank you for taking the time to read.   

[mckha489]

Good description of the function of The Nursery here

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/6108c1ad-8464-45ce-9ce7-c936d194da36

Perhaps it did close, and Harriet had no other choice to get some shelter and food for the girls. I would think she probably paid a small amount to the one looking after the youngest as a l nurse child”

But I agree! It’s a very long way between Portsea and Curry Rivel.

[flower fairy]

Thank you. That makes very interesting reading.
I will continue to search for any links and also further information on Harriet 

[JenB]

 
   I am unable to find anymore info on Harriet, and can't find her on any census.

What was her approximate date of birth and her father's name - presumably you have this information from the 1869 marriage certificate?

[flower fairy]

On the marriage certificate they are both of full age, which doesn't help. Dad's were Jonathan Banks and Charles Cambridge Hill.

Thank you

[Milliepede]

There’s a Harriet Maria baptised 1847 Trowbridge Wilts with father Charles mother Eliza.
That would make her full age in 1869.

In 1861 there’s a Harriet Hill 14 from Wilts servant in Portsea

[Milliepede]

There is evidence Harriet actually returned from India is there?  Just wondering if she died there and there might be a listing in deaths abroad?

[flower fairy]

Thank you. That could possibly be Harriets baptism, spelt with an O which is why I struggled. I will look into that more.
 
   No I have no evidence she returned to India. The last I have on her is when she left 2 of her children in the nursery in 1883.

Thank you for your help 🙂

[Milliepede]

Not sure if Trowbridge Harriet is right or not but in 1891 Harriet Banks widow is nurse 43 with a Charlotte Hill widow as head in Fulham.

Looking more closely this is listed as a private lunatic asylum. 
Peterborough House Kings Road

Have a look and see what you think.